In the Water with North Island Kayak

There are a lot of activities you can do on Tybee Island, but one of the most popular is kayaking. We decided to take my brother, who happened to be visiting, as a surprise present for his birthday.

We arrived early at North Island Surf & Kayak, on the interior border of Tybee Island. The shop’s owner was out-of-town, but his parents had come down from Augusta to manage the place. They were a friendly couple, possessed of that southern tendency to immediately warm up to complete strangers. We enjoyed long conversations both before and after kayaking, and as we were leaving at the end of the day, we all got hugged.

We spent the whole day out on the water, paddling up the Lazaretto Creek which flows inland, and then into the ocean. It was a wonderful experience, the highlight of which came when a dolphin surfaced just ten feet from my kayak. Being outdoors on a perfect, warm fall morning, exercising muscles that haven’t been used in years… and seeing a dolphin as well? It couldn’t have been better.

The kayaks can be leased for the whole day, and they’re of good quality. The water around here is also generally calm; despite being total newbies to the sport, none of us were ever in danger of capsizing. And the shop is perfectly situated on the banks of the river, giving you the choice to go upstream, paddle over to Fort Pulaski, or just cruise along the coast of Tybee. North Island also offers day-long guided tours. If you’re in the mood for some exercise in a beautiful area, check them out!

North Island Surf & Kayak – Website

A Drone Video of the Kayak Water Ways and more Photos: